Namaste! Welcome to India. Begin your Indian adventure in its charismatic capital city - Delhi! Meet your friendly driver and transfer to your hotel where you will gather with your fellow travelers and guide for a spice-laden welcome dinner.

Begin your first full day on a walking tour in the old city of Delhi, the center of dynasties and empires and Northern India’s cultural and historical heart. Visit an 18th century Sikh Temple, and wander around the central market of Chandni Chowk, a chaotic, colorful maze of vendors selling everything from vivid saris and essential oils to silver jewelry and traditional Indian sweets. After the first of many cups of steaming masala chai, hop on a rickshaw for a memorable ride around the city, before exploring the exotic flavors of Asia’s biggest spice market, Khari Baoli. A delicious home-cooked dinner with a local family awaits you this evening. 

Trains connect every corner of India. Your journey to Jaipur introduces you to the friendly locals and gorgeous scenery that define an Indian rail adventure. Jaipur is both a cultural capital and a marvel of city planning, where the past comes alive in magnificent forts and palaces, where maharajas once lived. Watch a Bollywood movie this afternoon in one of the most popular and majestic cinema halls in the country, a red-carpet spot for Indian film premieres since the 1970s. Then enjoy a thrilling eco-friendly rickshaw ride that will take you past the famous sights of Jaipur, such as the Hawa Mahal palace, the Albert Hall Museum and bustling spice markets. 

Start your day with a visit to the stunning 10th century hilltop Amber Fort, which offers incredible panoramic views, intricate marble archways, and puzzling mosaics in its Hall of Mirrors. Built by one of the most trusted generals of Akbar, Maharaja Man Singh in 1592, the Amber Fort served as the main residence of the Rajput Rulers.

Today, venture to Bundi, which boasts the ornate palaces and vibrant artistic tradition of India’s must-see cities, concentrated in a charming hillside village. Take in some of the best of Indian life, from savoriing the famous, local masala chai to breathing in the aromatic spices from the town’s eclectic street food vendors.  

After a traditional Indian breakfast, venture through the lush lakes and “broken hills” of the  Aravalli Mountains on your way to the incredible city of Udaipur, a lakeside oasis that has long attracted India’s elite. Feel like royalty as you boat around the vast palace floating on Lake Pichola. This evening, revel in a vivid display of traditional dance in a heritage haveli (traditional, private dwelling), demonstrating why Udaipur has assumed a reputation as a vanguard of traditional Rajasthani artistic traditions.

Explore the vibrant day to day life of Udaipur as you walk from fragrant markets to serene ghats (steps leading to a holy water source). Survey the ornate, deeply-inspiring carvings of the Jagdish Temple. Dedicated to Lord Vishnu, this has been a site of continuous Hindu worship and pilgrimage since 1651. After an afternoon free to explore the streets and lakeshores of town, learn the masala method at an Indian cooking class. 

Arriving in Piplantri, you’re instantly struck with the health and density of its surrounding forests. This is for very good reason - every time a girl is born in the village, the village bands together to plant 111 trees in her honor. The results of this tradition are tremendous - not only are little girls welcomed with gratitude, but the village itself has also benefited from greater harmony and environmental security. This evening, we reach our home for the next two nights, the luxury tents at the Jawai Pug Marg Safari Lodge.

Jawai is a small village known for a large dam. You’re one of the few lucky travelers that will discover the stunning natural beauty of this area, a lushness that attracts and supports a wide diversity of wildlife. Head out on safari to find the many leopard for which this area is known, but don’t let that limit you. Panthers, hyenas, gazelles, bears, crocodiles and hundreds of bird species also call this home. Back at camp, enjoy a traditional Rajasthani banquet feast, trading wildlife stories and photos with your fellow adventurers. 

Jodhpur is a striking azure contrast to the pink of Jaipur. This “Blue City” is known for its equestrian culture, the eponymous riding pants, and the sprawling Mehrangarh Fort that watches over it upon a hill. Explore the fort’s expensive courtyards and inspiring collections of art before moving on to the ornate marble palace of Jaswant Thada. Aside from also being built as a memorial, this building’s intricate carvings and symmetry draw obvious comparisons to the Taj Mahal. 

It’s hard to imagine, but there are still more incredible sites to see in marvelous Jodhpur. The mesmerizing Umaid Bhawan Palace contains one of the world’s largest private residences, and it still has room for a Taj Hotel and a museum complex on the same property! The combination of Western Art Deco and Indo-Saracenic influences make this “Indo-Deco'' compound unique. After a stop at the surreal hand-carved sandstone staircases of Toorji Ka Jhalra, it’s time to take a sleeper train - an unmissable Indian travel experience - back to Delhi.   

One of the greatest experiences of traveling in India is wandering, exploring, and talking to the kind people. Back in Delhi, search for mementos at the street markets, try some chaat (snacks) from a street stall, or adventure to the parks and promenades of posh South Delhi. The day is yours to enjoy. If you’d like to continue with your guide, we’ll have a range of tours available to make discovery easy. Gather for a delicious farewell dinner, telling stories of adventures shared and savoring one last Indian meal together.

An incredible journey has come to an end, bring home the colors, smells and sounds (and maybe a chai recipe from your tour leader that you can replicate at home!)